Geospatial Insights into Agricultural Land Use Dynamics in Slovakia (2004–2024): Challenges and Opportunities

The Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) in Slovakia was brought into operation in 2004.The first LPIS database was created using aerial orthophotomosaics in 2002 and 2003, and since then, it has emerged as Slovakia's most reliable and consistent database for monitoring agricultural land use.This study utilises LPIS data to evaluate the significant changes in the spatial distribution and utilisation of arable land and grasslands between 2004 and 2024, focusing on their environmental implications.Over this period, Slovakia experienced a substantial net loss of agricultural land (Figure 1), totalling 2376.97 km (-11.32 %).Furthermore, arable land and grasslands (Figure 2), the two most significant land cover/land use (LC/LU) classes within LPIS, have undergone dynamic changes.By 2024, arable land accounted for 70.22% of the total LPIS area 2024, a decrease of 40,084 hectares from 2004.Within grasslands (28.71% of total LPIS area in 2024), a decrease of 6,356 hectares from 2004 was recorded.These LC/LU classes are essential for agricultural productivity and critical to maintaining biodiversity.